the times

Question 1

what date was the set product published?

Answer 1

1 feb 2022

Question 2

is it a tabloid or a broadsheet

Answer 2

broadsheet (however now physically smaller and just referred to as ‘quality’)

Question 3

when did the newspaper first start

Answer 3

1785
by john walter

Question 4

what is the demographic of the paper and what does this mean?

Answer 4

ABC1
middle and upper class
A - upper middle class
B - middle class
C1 - lower middle class

Question 5

what is the political alignment of the paper?

Answer 5

claims political neutrality but holds a conservative bias

Question 6

who owns/publishes the times newpaper?

Answer 6

Times Media, which is a subsidiary of conglomerate News UK and Ireland ltd

Question 7

who was the times’ executive editor at the time of the set product’s publication?

Answer 7

daniel finklestein (who is a member of the house of lords and, although no longer executive editor, he remains a weekly political columnist)
- is also a conservative supporter

Question 8

what kinds of topics are covered on their website?

Answer 8

politics, business and finance, society, sport, arts and culture, life and style, luxury, travel, Russia - Ukraine War, Israel - Hamas War, environment, puzzles, times radio

Question 9

what topics are covered in the physical newspaper?

Answer 9

front page, international / conflict news, times radio schedule, lifestyle, royals, crime, letters to the editor, politics, advertisements, weather / environment, business / economy, invitation to subscribe, celebrity, critics / reviews, real estate (home of the week), travel offers, tv guide/ schedule, puzzles, sport, electoral commission advertising

Question 10

give an example of the masthead from the set product?

Answer 10

‘The Times’

Question 11

give an example of a plug/puff from the set product?

Answer 11

How to be fit? article promoting Times2

Question 12

give an example of a headline?

Answer 12

‘Police investigate PMs four lockdown parties’

Question 13

give an example of a strapline

Answer 13

‘detectives examining hundreds of photos… gray criticises leadership and drinking culture’

Question 14

give an example of a subheading

Answer 14

‘The Times’ verdict’

Question 15

give an example of a jumpline

Answer 15

page 2, page 30

Question 16

give an example of a pull quote

Answer 16

“there was so little thought given to what was happening across the country … There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No 10…

Question 17

give an example of a splash

Answer 17

‘partygate’ article

Question 18

how is the target audience reflected in the front page?

Answer 18

• text led rather than image led
• formal language
• full sentence headlines/strapline
• bland colouring
• lion and unicorn on heraldic crest in masthead make is seem royal
• blue in the plug reflects conservative party

Question 19

what is the significance of the plug?

Answer 19

it is constructed differently using bright colours to differentiate between the serious and lighter elements of the newspapers content (binary opposition)
lifestyle focus intended to broaden appeal​

Question 20

analyse the image of boris

Answer 20

close up of Boris with an indirect mode of address
his expression showing anxiety of what is to come when he goes to the commons to address the political scandal/ possible regret for what is happening

Question 21

how does curran and seatons theory relate to the set product?

Answer 21

Newspapers industry is dominated by a small number of powerful companies ​
The times is part of a horizontally and vertically integrated company (also cultural industries theory)and so a large conglomerate – being part of a large press organisation can limit/inhibit creativity and journalistic freedom ​
Rupert Murdock is often accused of controlling his newspaper content and editorial teams supporting this theory ​

Question 22

how does shirky’s theory relate to the set product?

Answer 22

There are no longer passive audiences due to technology which enables the prosumer and citizen journalism. Consumers can also actively engage and ‘speak back’ to the news media through the times’ website which offers interactive opportunities for readers comment on stories/features

Question 23

how does hall’s reception theory relate to the set product?

Answer 23

Producers encode newspapers to be decoded by audiences ​

Those with different political biases to that of the newspaper will take an oppositional response to the message intended